How-To Geek

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We explain technology. Learn more with our articles, reviews, tips, and the best answers to your most pressing tech questions.
Updated: 38 min 37 sec ago

The $20K luxury sedan that just won’t quit

Sun, 12/28/2025 - 17:30

Luxury sedans don’t always have the same rugged dependability as hatchbacks or mainstream cars. RepairPal puts the average reliability for full-size luxury models at just 2.5 out of 5—not shocking when you consider brands like BMW, Mercedes, Alfa Romeo, and Audi dominate the segment.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These smart home devices are officially too old for 2026

Sun, 12/28/2025 - 17:00

As much as we’d like our devices to last forever, the sad reality is that many need replacing long before they’ve stopped working entirely. This sometimes takes the form of a welcome and considered upgrade, but too often it’s an early retirement due to servers being switched off and a lack of support.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 Linux distros that work with Windows Secure Boot

Sun, 12/28/2025 - 16:30

Are you planning a dual-boot setup but worried about Secure Boot compatibility? Fear that disabling Secure Boot will compromise your Windows installation? Here are five Linux distros that work seamlessly with Windows Secure Boot—no BIOS tweaking required.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 best Windows-like Linux desktop environments for a familiar look and feel

Sun, 12/28/2025 - 16:15

Do you want to try Linux but don’t want to relearn a new interface? Worried that an unfamiliar desktop might slow down your workflow? You’re not alone—and these five Windows-like desktop environments (DEs) are designed to help you feel right at home.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to customize Linux Mint to look like macOS

Sun, 12/28/2025 - 16:00

Linux Mint is famous for offering a familiar Windows-like desktop experience, but did you know it’s also one of the most customizable distros—with built-in tools to tweak its look and feel? To give you an idea of what's possible, here's how I made Linux Mint Cinnamon Edition look like macOS.

Categories: IT General, Technology

8 things I've learned from using my phone as my PC

Sun, 12/28/2025 - 16:00

It may sound a little strange, but I've used a phone as my primary PC for nearly two years. My journey started with the Moto Edge+, but I've since migrated to a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold smartphone. Here's everything I've learned along the way.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Here's one thing that can help you hit your 2026 health and fitness goals

Sun, 12/28/2025 - 15:30

As someone who absolutely loves his Apple Watch, you’d have to pry my wearable from my cold, dead wrists. That’s an eventuality that I’ve been trying to delay as much as possible, since health and fitness are my primary motivations for wearing it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 Linux terminal text editors I use instead of nano

Sun, 12/28/2025 - 15:00

Even if you tend to avoid the Linux terminal, chances are, at some point, you will have to edit a text file within the terminal. By default, pretty much every Linux distribution uses the 'nano' text editor. It's entirely keyboard-driven and uses some old-school shortcuts from the 1990s. Those shortcuts are counter-intuitive for me and I just don't want to bother learning them anyway. I have two choices here: learn something like Vim, which would take even longer, or use a more modern alternative of 'nano.' I went with the second option and tested a lot of console text editors. These are my favorites.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 reasons you should give Home Assistant a try in 2026

Sun, 12/28/2025 - 14:30

Smart ecosystems such as Alexa and Google Home are popular because they're so convenient. It's relatively simple to set them up and add smart home devices, and they're often good enough for many people's needs. There is a more powerful option, however: Home Assistant. While it may be a little daunting at first, there has never been a better time to give Home Assistant a try.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to create hidden, password-protected virtual drives using VeraCrypt

Sun, 12/28/2025 - 14:15

The safest way to secure your data on Windows is by keeping it in encrypted vaults. You can create hidden, password-protected virtual drives. Put your data in there, access it when you need to, and then hide the virtual drives again. This is everything you need to know to create and use super secure storage vaults on Windows.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why you should learn the Linux terminal

Sun, 12/28/2025 - 14:00

Are you new to Linux and resisting the terminal? Or perhaps you're a longtime passionate user like me? Regardless, learning the Linux terminal opens up an entirely different world on Linux, and I will explain why.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This sub-$15K budget EV outshines ICE rivals in reliability

Sun, 12/28/2025 - 13:30

Finding a reliable car under $15,000 is already a challenge, but finding an electric one that can outlast traditional gas-powered rivals seems almost impossible. That’s exactly why this budget-friendly EV stands out. Despite its low entry price, it delivers a level of reliability that many internal combustion competitors struggle to match, making it a surprisingly smart choice for cost-conscious buyers.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How-To Geek’s top 10 most popular articles of 2025

Sun, 12/28/2025 - 13:00

Over the last year, you may have noticed we're geeking out about even more things now. From the classics like Windows and Android, to new topics such as electric cars and weekly binge sessions, there's a huge and diverse collection of articles being published every day. But which stories brought in the most eyeballs in 2025?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop buying Raspberry Pis: Why a cheap used mini PC is the better choice

Sat, 12/27/2025 - 23:30

Used and refurbished mini PCs are everywhere online, and Dell's Optiplex family of tiny office drone desktops might be the most numerous simply thanks to the sheer number of these computers out in the wild that have been cycled down through business customers and reached the end of the line with refurbishers.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 things that all 3D printer owners should know how to do

Sat, 12/27/2025 - 22:30

The first 3D printer I ever encountered had to be assembled from parts that arrived in a box. This was more than a decade ago, and things have certainly changed. The last two 3D printers I acquired worked right out of the box after plugging them in and removing the packing material—there's never been a more beginner-friendly time to get into the hobby.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why I stopped recommending NAS drives to normal people

Sat, 12/27/2025 - 22:00

If you’ve ever complained about running out of storage around a group of geeks, you’ve probably been told you need a NAS. With promises of 24/7 access and fancy backup solutions, it sounds more appealing than it actually is. I’m going to go against the grain today: most people don’t actually need a NAS—they just think they need one.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Please stop using registry cleaners, they're harming your PC

Sat, 12/27/2025 - 21:30

Registry cleaners have been available for decades, and once upon a time, there might have been an argument for using them. However, these days, they present almost no benefit and could mess up your PC.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Does your Kindle need a screen protector?

Sat, 12/27/2025 - 20:30

S you just got a Kindle and are mulling over whether to slap a screen protector on it. Let’s find out if you really need one.

Categories: IT General, Technology

No other gas-powered luxury sedan delivers efficiency this impressive

Sat, 12/27/2025 - 20:00

Luxury sedans have traditionally forced buyers to choose between comfort, performance, and fuel efficiency. Most deliver refinement and power, but efficiency usually takes a back seat—especially in gas-powered models. That’s why this particular luxury sedan stands out. It achieves fuel economy figures that rival some entry-level hybrids, all while maintaining the smooth ride, premium materials, and quiet cabin buyers expect from the segment. For drivers who want luxury without frequent fuel stops, it’s in a class of its own.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The one cheap comfort upgrade your smartphone needs

Sat, 12/27/2025 - 19:30

No one ever teaches you how to hold a phone, yet we’ve all adopted the same awkward grip. There are little tricks that can make it easier to reach things on the screen, but that doesn’t address the comfort of holding the phone. A very simple accessory can fix that.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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